Labor Department Report Highlights Countries That Use Child Labor

A Labor Department report counts some 60 countries where child labor or forced labor is used to make hundreds of goods.

The report, which was mandated by Congress, doesn't name companies that use child labor or U.S. businesses that buy the goods. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis says the government isn't trying to penalize those companies, but to raise awareness about the issue and encourage American companies to voluntarily make sure raw goods aren't derived with exploited labor. Some of the most common products listed include raw materials like cotton, sugar cane, coffee, rice, cocoa and bricks. They come from nearly every region of the world, from West African cocoa farms to Latin American sugar cane to Indian silk.

Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin says "Knowing which products are produced by child slaves" may change consumer behavior. He says "These reports shed light on who and where we need to focus our efforts to stop the worst forms of child labor."

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